Marriage and family therapists in New York are required to receive advanced education and training before they may legally offer couples counseling or marriage counseling services. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, individuals who wish to work as a marriage and family therapist in New York are generally required to earn a master's degree or higher in clinical counseling, marriage and family therapy, psychology, or a related mental health field. A bachelor's degree in most subject areas is acceptable for admission to the recommended master's programs.

Many couples seek couples therapy when they are experiencing issues they may not be able to resolve on their own. These issues may involve a breakdown in communication, sexual issues, money issues, infidelity, or other concerns within the context of the relationship. Due to the significant impact couples therapy and marriage counseling can have on a relationship, supervised training in clinical practice is needed before individuals are able to serve as a marriage and family therapist. In New York, marriage therapists in training may work in residency or internship programs where they gain practical experience providing care. During these residency and internship programs, all sessions are conducted under the supervision and direction of a licensed marriage therapist. Important qualities and skills that may be developed in training include:

In addition to receiving advanced education and thousands of hours of supervised training, marriage therapists in New York are required to obtain a license from the state in order to practice. To demonstrate their competency in providing couples therapy, individuals are generally required to pass a state exam. They also need to avail themselves of continuing education programs in order to maintain their license.

References:

Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2016). How to become a mental health counselor or a marriage and family therapist. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/mental-health-counselors-and-marriage-and-family-therapists.htm#tab-4